The 11 most beautiful villages in Indre-et-Loire

On holiday in Touraine? Take the time to discover the most beautiful villages of Indre-et-Loire.

In addition to its capital, Tours, dozens of villages in Indre-et-Loire are worth visiting. In each of them, you will discover the most beautiful historical monuments of each other.

Indre-et-Loire is also known to be the cradle Castles of the Loire . In the past, the kings and queens of France had their main or secondary residence in the region.

To enjoy its cultural and natural treasures, Wanderlix has prepared a list of the most beautiful villages in Indre-et-Loire. Then follow the guide!

1. Artannes-sur-Indre

Here is one of the most blooming villages in Indre-et-Loire! For several years, Artannes-sur-Indre has participated in the flowering of Val-de-l’Indre. During your visit to this village of Indre-et-Loire, you will discover many flowers and very dense vegetation. The commune has received the label of “Villes et Villages fleuris”, every year since 2015.

The most impressive flowering site is at the bridge level on the avenue of the mills. Every year, Artannes organizes the competition of flowery houses. On this occasion, the inhabitants are full of imagination to beautify their accommodation and give all its splendor to the city.

2. Beaulieu-lès-Loches

Demining the Indre Valley, Beaulieu-lès-Loches was a battlefield between the seigneurs who fought in duel. Today, during your visit to this village of Indre-et-Loire, the decor has changed and you can discover the abbey church dating from the 11th century.

Partly destroyed during The Hundred Years War some remains remain. The bell tower, with a height of 63 meters, has five bells. However, it is unlikely that you would hear them ring, as they make the walls still in place.

If you want to experience a unique experience in Indre-et-Loire, take a walk aboard a carriage. The horses take you to discover the architectural richness of Beaulieu-lès-loches. And if you prefer a walk, the commune is crossed by a large hiking trail in South Touraine.

3. Candes-Saint-Martin

Candes-Saint-Martin is one of the most beautiful villages in Indre-et-Loire, and even the Hexagon. So don’t forget your camera to capture impressive images. Place on the north shore and get your camera out. The monuments separate the sky and the Loire for a real postcard decor.

Candes-Saint-Martin is a place of confluence between two rivers; Loire and Vienna. Thanks to this strategic position, it is quite naturally that the village has developed as a river port.

To discover the town, walk through the narrow streets during a 3.5-kilometre ride specially designed for tourists.

4. Chédigny

Chédigny is a garden village bearing the label of "remarkable garden". Within this commune, you will discover no less than 1,000 rosiers, 1,500 bulbs and hundreds of shrubs. At every corner of the street, vegetation is omnipresent.

For all the work of embellishment accomplished, Chédigny has also collected the graal of all the flowering villages; the famous Golden Flower.

If you want to taste local specialties, go to Clos aux Roses where the chef prepares delicious semi-gastronomic dishes.

From the centre of the village, start a hike that extends over 13 kilometers. You will explore the forest trails to discover the meadows of the Touraine.

5. Crissay on Manse

Located in the Manse Valley, this village of Indre-et-Loire is full of historical monuments; a castle of the 15th century, a church of the sixteenth century and houses of white tuffeau. Crissay Castle is among the must-sees to be visited in Touraine.

During your visit, take care of each detail and observe the architectural wonders that stand on each house. Here the steps are carved directly into the rock, the houses are semi-troglodytic and an underground-refugee takes place under the former fortress.

6. The Louroux

The Louroux is the gateway to the south of Indre-et-Loire. This small village of 500 inhabitants will delight lovers of old stones. Here, almost all the houses have been able to keep their old charm. All around the village, nature and greenery are everywhere.

If you want a real disconnect, this village of Touraine is the place to go. With its farm, mill and pond, the Louroux offers a breathtaking scenery. All around the pond, a journey presents you all the ecological richness of the region. By going to the ornithological observatory, you may see some birds among the hundred species identified.

7. Montrésor

In 2015, Montrésor was admitted to the second place for the highly prized title of "the favourite French village". By going to this town, you will quickly succumb to its charm. Walk through the medieval streets to discover the famous castle of Montrésor.

Within it, discover more than a millennium of history through many art objects. At the bottom of the castle, a river serves as a mirror reflecting the building and all the houses of the village. To highlight the beauty of this landscape, a light path is organized every summer.

8. Rochecorbon

Among the most beautiful villages in Indre-et-Loire, discover Rochecorbon. The town offers an exceptional landscape between vineyard and Loire. During your visit, go up the Lantern tower. If you are lovers of literature, you have probably already heard of it through the novels of Balzac.

Visit also the abbey which is a place of culture, since it was once the place where the manuscripts were copied and all the knowledge preserved. And of course, don't miss the natural caves where doors, windows and stairs adorn the stones.

Before leaving the village, enjoy the wines of the region. Rochecorbon is one of the seven communes of Indre-et-Loire to carry the original name Vouvray.

9. Villaines-les-Rochers

Come and discover the secret of one of the most beautiful villages in Indre-et-loire. Villaines-les-Rochers is known and recognized for its mastery of the osier. This craftsmanship dates back centuries. The craftsmen turn the bones into various everyday objects.

You can thus bring back some memories of Indre-et-Loire, like baskets or pretty nest boxes. Thanks to its climate and soil, Villaines-les-rochers is suitable for the cultivation of small slates that allow the production of darer.

10. Veigné

Veigné is one of the oldest villages in Indre-et-Loire. Indeed, archaeological research attests to the presence of man from the Paleolithic period. Today, the commune is full of historical monuments; parish church, chapel and about 20 castles and manors.

In addition to these monuments, Veigné is also the city of the mills. And to make you discover the mill in another way, 3D visits are offered to apprehend each detail.

11. Véretz

Last of our list of the most beautiful villages in Indre-et-Loire, Véretz offers many tours to discover the region. On the programme you will explore the old town, the mills, the castle, the aqueduct or the church. If you have enough time, explore the depths of the commune through the cave labyrinths.